Caster



CASTER INVENTOR. WALTER FHBRULD.

Filed Dec. 7, 1927 I ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov, 18, 1930 i U ITEDI- TA es:

COMPANY, orgnnxneeronr, CONNEGTI WALTER r. HEROLD, OF rrnrt MoNTcLnmfNEwJERSEY, AssIGivoR. TO 'riin'BAssrcK our, AfoonroRA'rIoN or comvnc'rroorons'rER Application filed December The present inventionrelates toimprovements in casters, particularly of the type having a caster socketor frame in which the caster pintle is inserted, and has for an objectto provide improved retaining means for removably securing the casterpintle in place 15 methods.

' With the above and other objects in view, embodiments of my inventionareshown in the accompanying drawings, and these'embodiments will behereinafter more fully de- 2 scribed with reference thereto, and theinvention will be finally pointed out in the claim. r I

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a top bearing casterassembly, according to one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the socket member, as shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, taken along 30 the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;u

Fig. 4: is a side elevation of a modification showing the inventionasadapted to abottom bearing caster;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view partly broken away, of a socketembodying a modified form of the invention;

Figs. 6 to 9 are similar views of further modified forms; and

5 ing a central aperture, and a frame consist- Fig. 10 is a bottom planview of the ring- 7,1927. Serial No. 238,311.

ing at side le portions and 12', bent'at their lowerends about theperiphery'of the base plate, as at Band 14:, to secure the framethereto, and a connectingjtop portion 15 provided with a centraljdomedrportion l e-having ia top pintle'bearing 17 pressed therein, thisbearingbeing in the formof an inverted cone. r I

, v The detachable caster consists of the; usual horn 18 having a casterwheel 19,rotatably carried therein uponan axle 20, and having. a pintle21. secured in its upper transverse portion, the pintle beingprovided atits lower 'portionwith an enlarged diameter cylindrical portion 22,tapering as at23, to theiuppersmaller diameter portion. At the upper endof the pintle, there'is provided a coneshapedrecess 24, adapted toengage'the ceri V ter top bearingl7 ofthe frame. 7

The pintle retaining means according to the present embodimentconsistsof a split spring ring. 25 adapted to be rotatably connected tothe base plate 10 and to frictionally grip upon the pintleIg The ringisof round- 1 ed v-shape cross section to provide an annular recessatthe'outer side and it isrotatably secured to the base plate by a seriesof lugs 26 struck up from the base plate andbent "inwardly into therecessof the' ring to loosely retain it in rotatable relation." In thecontracted relation of the r1ng, w1th the plntle disengaged,the same iscentered by the bevel ,of its recessed outer surface resting by gravi-vtyupon the lugs 26, as indicated-inFigUQ.

When engaged byzthe pintle the ring is expanded, its recessed outersurface being of such depth, however, and being so. propor- VtionetLthat theinitial swiveling'of the pintle positions it so that'itrotates free of the lugs. The V shape cross-section of the ring,inlacldition to centralizing the ring and providing a -retaining recess,provides a lead surface for theinsertion of the pintle.

v vIn Fig.4 .1 have illustrated ,a modified' v form of socket framewhich the present improvements areembodied. In this-form the socketincludes an inverted U@shaped springframe QZhaving a flanged aperture 28,in its upper transverse portion for receiving thelupperene, e he,pintle, a d hav n l 29 at the lower end of its side leg portions engagedin slots 30 in the base plate and bent in- 7 base plate and the flangedaperture 28 of the I spring frame. lVhile I have illustrated these twotypes of sockets itwill be obvious that the invention may be embodied innumerous other types comprising a socket and a removable 'pintle. I

In Fig; 5 I have illustrated a modification in which the spring ring 33is provided with an upper laterally extending flange 34 and with a lowerbeveled flange 85, these flanges cooperating toret-ain the ring axiallyin rotatable relation with the bent lugs 26, and the flange 35additionally serving as a lead surface for insertion of the pintle. i

I In Fig.6 I have illustrated a further modi- "fication in which thesplit spring ring 37 is directly secured in the aperture of the baseplate 10, the ring being of channel-shaped cross section to provide anouter annular recess in which the edge of the aperture is disposed.

. In Fig. 7 I have illustrated another modification in which the splitspring ring 38 of arcuate cross section is provided with a series ofdownwardly extending bent lugs39 bent beneath a continuous lateralflange 40, provided upon an annular ring member 41 secured to the baseplate 10 by means of lugs 42, engaged through slots 43 in the base plateand bent over upon the under side thereof. The curve of the lugs, itwill be noted, provides a lead surface for insertion of the pintle. Themodification shown in Fig. 8 is substantially the same as that shown inFig. 7, the ring 38, however, being in reversed relation.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9,..the split spring ringed is fiatand disposed above the flange 40, and is provided with a series ofdownwardly extending lugs 45, slightly inset supporting means carried bysaid base disposed laterally outwardlyof said ring and adapted to retainsaid ring laterally with re spect to said pintle receiving means, saidring including means disposed transversely above and below saidsupporting means and adaptedtoconfine said ring axially, said ring beingadapted to retain said pintle withres'pect to said pintle receivingmeans.

. --Signed at Bridgeport, in the county 7 Fairfield, and State ofConnecticut, this 26th day of November, 1927f WVALTER F. HERQLD.v

of v

-from the inner periphery pintle engaging surface of the ring, and bentbeneath the flange 40 to retain the ring. I

' I have illustrated and described preferred 7 and satisfactoryembodiments of my invention, but it will be obvious that changes may bemade therein within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in theappended claim. 7

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Paten'tz g s In a support, a floor engaging element ineluding apintle, pintle receivmd means adaptedto'besecured to afu-rniture egorthe

